About Ivan

Ivan Hampden Jr. , Founder and President/CEO of Hamptown Music Institute, was born and raised in New York City, and grew up in Harlem’s musically diverse neighborhoods to the rhythms of R&B, Salsa, Caribbean, Jazz, Blues, Pop, Funk and whatever else trickled in. This saturation of music inspired Hampden to start playing the drums at the age of eight, with the local Catholic school marching band. By age 13, he was playing in local clubs in and around New York City, with Blues musicians who helped instill in him a sense of timing and groove. The musical diversity of his early youth set the foundation for Hampden’s future work with percussion and keyboards.

Hampden started his formal training in 1973, studying at the Jazz Mobile with Charlie Percep, and at Mannes College of Music with Norman Grossman. He went on to attend Bronx Community College in 1977, where he received private lessons at the Metropolitan Opera with Richard Horowitz. During his first semester at Bronx Community College, a friend told him about the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Hampden had to be involved and joined the orchestra—a position he still holds today. While at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Hampden was also a drum and percussion instructor at the Harlem School of the Arts, and at Seton Hall University in the Black Music Department. But his talent reached far beyond Harlem. Hampden has touched and enhanced the New York theater community as well, performing for various shows on Broadway, The Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and many more..

Not only an accomplished drummer and percussionist, Hampden is also a producer and songwriter who collaborates with such artists as Luther Vandross, Nick Ashford, Chaka Khan, Eartha Kitt, and many others.

Along with being Luther Vandross’ drummer and co-writing partner for 17 years (which earned him recognition four(4)times from the Grammy Awards as a Musician, Arranger and Programmer on a number of Vandross’s platinum recordings) until the time of the consummate musician’s death , Hampden currently records and tours with other notable artists such as Stephanie Mills, Ashford & Simpson, Roberta Flack, Phil Perry, Vanessa Williams and Jennifer Lopez.

In 2001, Hampden relocated to the south, where he continues to write and produce in between touring around the country and world.

In fall 2007, Hampden signed on as an adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina, teaching recording production I and II, and audio postproduction. In the Fall of 2010, Ivan also accepted an offer to teach Drums and Percussion at Johnston Community College.

After 10 years of teaching as a music educator in North Carolina, He is now Founder and CEO of The Hamptown Music Institute in Clayton, North Carolina, where his mission is to “Develop the next generation of music industry professionals and Artists.” While continuing to be in demand as a music Producer, Ivan is also working with new local talent around the country.